A relative or friend asked me to sign an “affidavit of support” as a favor, to help him/her bring a family member to the United States. What are my responsibilities if I sign it?
For almost every single immigrant petition based on family links and for some employment based petitions, the family member (or employer) must sign a document known as the “affidavit of support”, where the petitioner must prove he/she has enough financial resources to take care of the beneficiary in case the immigrant cannot take care of himself/herself. The purpose of this declaration is to demonstrate to the government that the immigrant will not become a public charge, or dependant on welfare. On many occasions, the petitioner does not have enough resources or necessary income, according to the law, to prove to the government that he can take care of the immigrant. In such cases, the petitioner may ask another person to co-sign the affidavit of support as a “co-sponsor”. By signing the document, the sponsor enters into a contract with the Government of the United States, where he promises to take care of the immigrant, if this ever becomes necessary. If the immigrant receives any ai
